It is obvious that too much of the baseline rallies could cost her quite much againt actual top-hitters...

She is an excellent doubles player with some real net abilities and experience...

Now, I am not talking about offensive net game but rather of exploiting any given opportunity to conclude at the net...

Even though it could take her some time to get used to this and adapt her game, it could pay off much more in the future...

despite actual excellent "passers", I think there is much more margin for this net risks in the women's than in the men's game...

Should she work on this more...? :confused:

Hingie

Jan 5th, 2006, 11:56 AM

I remember when Hingis burst on the scene, she used to take balls on her forehand really early, go down the line and use this as an approach shot which would normally set her up beautifully to make a volley.

I definitely think she needs to incorporate more net play - she's so gifted at net - may as well use it! But from what i've seen of Martina's play, the level of net play is directly linked to her confidence at the time. If things are going poorly, she used to switch to this game plan (more often early on in her career). 2001/02 i think she was so daunted by the power she was comfortable to try and battle it out on the baseline.

KimC&MariaSNo1's

Jan 5th, 2006, 12:00 PM

yeh she should but if she does it is another thing

Mark for Martina

Jan 5th, 2006, 12:03 PM

I think being an all court specialist where she had the options of plan a, plan b & plan c is Martina's background.

She has great foundations on the forecourt and the backcourt that she could mix up the play. She has been known to have all the shots in the book and being good on all of these shots is how she trains. That's why I guess a lot of folks like her because of the variety in her game.

If she could create the points to get to net, I think she will get there.. but Martina is also known to surprise opponents with something different everytime...

tennisjam

Jan 5th, 2006, 01:14 PM

agree with the all-court analysis but I think she should really push herself more to the net on some occasions...

Without orienting of course her game mainly to the net, I think she should get used to take more risks at the net and take any chance to surprise her opponent...

She doesn't have those "blowing" baseline shots that can assure her many winners and she is not one of those physically strong neither...

But her all-court ability (shot repertoire and tactics) can give her many opportunities to impose herself at the net...and mastering some good and active net-game is quite an advantage against any player and at any point of one's career...

getting ever quicker at the net with some even more decisive, risky and confident volleys could give her so many "easier" points...

Of course it's something that can't be done overnight, but I think that it could be a very interesting " investment"...

the bambi

Jan 5th, 2006, 04:05 PM

yep, she should sneak as often as she can...even against conchi who'll keep passing her til the cows come home. :p

tennisjam

Jan 21st, 2006, 01:13 PM

After seeing her 3 matches at the AO, I am even more convinced about this. This would "spare" much of her condition, give her more winners and put more pressure on her opponents...

Now, facing some top "passers" is another story, but I'm placing this in a long-term...Her baseline power is limited (and will always be, compared to the power-game hitters..), but her counter-punch, approach shots and volleys are great...

Once again, I really think she should work on this even more and take even more risks and iniciative at the net...she mostly exploits opportunities to go to the net, but sometimes she stays back even after some good counter-punch or attacking shot, starting over some long rally...

With all my modest analysis :angel: , I think more of the net-game is her future...

TonyP

Jan 21st, 2006, 02:23 PM

I thought the most interesting part of Venus' game against the Polish girl was that Venus played well at the net, at least in the beginning. Her volleys were great. Then she sort of forgot to cover the lines and got passed a lot, but her instincts on coming in were good.

Hingis so far has come in 20 times against Zvonerava and won 16 of the points, 17 times against Laine and won 15 of the points and 7 times against Benesova and won 6 of the points.

She said in her press conference she felt she didn't play quite as well against Benesova and I think she means she was not quite as aggressive, so yes, I think she should continue to be aggressive and sneak in every chance she gets. that includes some serving and volleying, something I'd like to see more of from her.

One thing, though, Hingis adjusts her game to each opponent and I suspect she will continue to do so as she plays tougher and tough girls as the tournament goes on.

tennisjam

Jan 21st, 2006, 06:12 PM

One thing, though, Hingis adjusts her game to each opponent and I suspect she will continue to do so as she plays tougher and tough girls as the tournament goes on.

of course she will, it's one of the basics of her game...

What I am talking about is developping even more "pro-active" net display. She has everything for that:

and to get there in good conditions, she uses of course good strategies thanks to her couter-punch and even attacking shots...

She has always been great to take the opportunity and rush to the net, mostly surprising her opponents and that's great, of course...

But I am considering even more frequent net play...Not that she should change her game in any way, but just take advantage even more of her abilities...

Once her serve becomes more solid, she can even go more often for serve-volley...I just notice that sometimes, she doesn't exploit all the opportunities (mostly after a good couter-punch...) as I said...